Romans 3 continues the dissertation of Paul regarding Justification by Faith. In Romans 1, he showed us the obvious sin that plagues all people. In Romans 2, he uncovered the judgmental viewpoint of the Moralist. In both cases, Paul reveals that the problem that we all suffer from: creating our own truth. When we create our own truth, and walk away from the truth, we create a deep rift between us and God. Now, Paul will expand his concept by showing that all people suffer from this, and because of this, why all people need a savior.
1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? 2 Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
Is there an advantage to being a Jew. The advantage Paul sees is that the word of God was originally entrusted to them.
3 What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? 4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”
Because the Jews on a whole rejected God, it didn’t mean that God’s actions were wrong; God’s actions will be justified.
5 But if our unrighteousness brings out God’s righteousness more clearly, what shall we say? That God is unjust in bringing his wrath on us? (I am using a human argument.) 6 Certainly not! If that were so, how could God judge the world? 7 Someone might argue, “If my falsehood enhances God’s truthfulness and so increases his glory, why am I still condemned as a sinner?” 8 Why not say—as some slanderously claim that we say—“Let us do evil that good may result”? Their condemnation is just!
The argument that Paul uses is a human argument. It goes like this: If I’m just a pawn in God’s game, then it is unfair that God judges me if my evil behavior ultimately brings his righteousness. This human argument is one possibly made by the Gnostics of his time. They believed that the flesh was inherently corrupt, so whatever was done in the flesh didn’t affect the spirit. But God’s judgment of the world is based on the choices we make, not the conclusions they may have.
Example: Let’s say a guy named Bill is a thief. It began as shoplifting and grew over the years into petty crimes, then robberies, and he ended up finding his niche in stealing art pieces and selling them in the black market. He eventually gets caught and does ten years in prison. While in prison he finds Jesus, confesses for his sin and once out, he devotes his life to guiding youth from thievery. Now, the human argument could be that the ends justify the means. That those things that he once did served a good purpose, therefore they are ultimately good.
Paul’s argument says the opposite. The series of choices brought Bill to an appointment with God in which he had to make a choice for good. In that, he did something good with a lifetime of bad choices. Those choices, which hurt people and damaged relationships, were done in a former life, a life Bill is still accountable for, regardless of what he did with them in the future.
No One Is Righteous 9 What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.
Paul’s conclusion is this: no one is exempt from God’s judgment. There is no advantage, not for the Jews or gentiles, the obvious sinner or the moralist, those who have done good or bad.
10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Paul’s list is not conclusive, but it does show us that God’s judgment cuts across all divisions: no one is righteous, no one understands. All have turned away, no one does good, our talk is tainted, we are swift toward violence, we leave a trial of misery, we don’t understand peace and we don’t respect God. His rebuke of humankind is extreme: no one has anything to offer God that is of value; our thoughts, actions and attitudes have been corrupted; we have all turned away in our own way.
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
One of the amazing things about this chapter is this verse. The law has a function. But what is the law? This is the 10 Commandments. But what is its function? Can it save us? Paul says that the reason the law is there is for us to realize our sinful nature. By the law we are convicted of our unrighteousness. It acts as a guidepost for us to understand our brokenness. If this is true for people under the law (trying to do the right thing), then what does it say to those who don’t?
It’s like a speed limit sign. The sign is there, an obvious posting of the law on any highway. We have the free will choice to exceed the limit or not. But the sign doesn’t convict us, does it? Our choice convicts us. Regardless of our choice, the sign is there to tell us of the proper speed.
Paul’s point is this: The law cannot save us; it makes one conscious of their sin. We are all guilty before God, based on the choices for sin that we’ve made in our lifetime.
Righteousness Through Faith 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
So far, it looks pretty dire. We have failed in numerous ways. We are headed for judgement. There isn’t anything we can offer God that amounts to salvation. So what can we do? But Paul says there is a way. There is righteousness available to us apart from the law. This is the New Covenant. This is God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, which has been spoken of by the prophets of the Old Testament. This is the key to Justification by Faith.
22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Justification by faith is given through our authentic belief in Jesus. Why? Because we can’t do it on our own. This is a free gift, via grace, through Christ; we do not earn righteousness.
25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
Jesus’ death was propitiation (substitute sacrifice/atonement) for our sins. He was judged in our place, so the Father could demonstrate His righteousness against sin, while sparing those who deserve judgement.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.
Because we are justified by faith freely, there should be no boasting. Boasting is about pride. Pride is incompatible with the free gift of salvation. We are justified by faith alone. Justification by faith is available to all. The law helps us to understand our sin and how we need a savior. Justification through Jesus is the only way.